Programmed arrest gear tape



March 9, 1965 C. J. DANIELS ET AL PROGRAMMED ARREST GEAR TAPE OriginalFiled March 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3.

INVENTORS Charles J.Dcnie|s a Donald B. Dooliflle BY t ATTORNEY March 9,1965 c. J. DANIELS ET AL & 7

PROGRAMMED ARREST GEAR TAPE Original Filed March 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet2 !7 /o TODRUM goag FIG .4. 57

NvNroRs Charles J. Danels 8 Donald B. Dooliflle A'ITORNEY March 9, 1965c. J. DANIELS ET AL PROGRAMMED ARREST GEAR TAPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed March 5, 1962 FIG.6.

F I G .7. INVENTORS Charles J. Daniels a Donald B. Dooliflle v kATTORNEY March 9, 1965 c. J. DANIELS ET AL & 5

PROGRAMMED ARREST GEAR TAPE Original Filed March 5, 1962 4 Shets-Sheet 4INVENTORS Charles J. Danlls& Donald B. Doolflle ATTORNEY United StatesPatert Ofi ice Patenta& Mar. 9, 1965 &172594 PROGRAMMEB ARREST GEAR TAPECharies .ll. Daniela, Wiimington, and Donald B. Doolttie,

Hoehessin, Del assignors to All American Engineering Company,Wilmington, Del., a corporatien of Dalan/are Continnation of appiicationSer. No, ll77,493, Mar, 5, 1962. This application July l 1964, Ser. No.%1,873 4 Claims. (Ci. 183-90) This application is a continuation ofprior co-pending application Serial Number l77,493, filed March 5, 1962,for an Arresting Gear and Retrieve System, assigned by the inventorDonald B. Doolittle to the present assignce.

The present application is actually divided out of the foregoingidentified application and relates specifically to a tape arrangement orformation adapted for use with an energy absorber of the type describedin said aboveidentified application, such tape arrangement and formationserving to program the torque and/ or braking effect of the energyabsorber devices of the system.

Also, a specific object of the invention is to provide prcgrammedperformance of the energy absorber by the thickness of the tape and theradius of the wrapped tape as it pays out from the core ot the tape drumduring operation.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear more fully hereinaftcr from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken with the accornpanying drawings whereinseveral features and embodiments thereof are illustrated. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the present invention installed adjacenteach opposite edge of a landing surface, showing the energy absorberswith a partially extended tape, which tape ends are joined together at apredetermined tension by an aircraft arresting cable or deck pendant;

FIGURE 2 is a Vertical cross section View of the landing surface ofFIGURE 1 and a side elevation view of the arresting cable, tapeconnections and the energy absorbers of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a semi-schernatic side View of an aircraft with its arresthook engaged with the arrest cable or deck pendant and showing the tapespartially in payout position;

FIGURE 4 is a partial view of an arrest cable and a connecting taperedpurchase tape of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section View taken on a section line 5-5 of FIGURE3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan View of one of the present invcntion energyabsorbers, showing the rotor member in dotted lines as it is mounted inthe fluid housing therefor, below the tape storage drum;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation View of the energy absorber illustrated inFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a partiai cross sectional View of an embodimeut of theenergy absorber, illustrating the association and mountings for theseveral parts thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view or" another form of the energy absorbersusing the novel tapered tape of the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a cross section View taken along section line 16-1@ ofFIGURE 9; and

FIGURE ll is a cross section View of the energy absorber including anelevation View of a friction brake means for pretensioning the tape andarrest cables.

Referring to the drawings and first with particular reference to FIGURES1 through 3 inclusive, there is shown a landing surface A having thepresent invention novel energy absorber means B and C with operativelyassociated rctrieve means D and E respectively, mounted in slightlyoffset relation with respect to each other on opposite adjacent sides ofthe surface A. The ofiset relation is arranged to provide for astraight-line payoff of the energy absorber tape ti), which as shown inFIG- URE 4 is progressively varied in thickness from each unit atdiametrically opposite tangental tape payout points 11 and 12,respectively. These oppositely positioned tangential payout pointsperrnit a substantially straight-line Stretch or extension of the arrestcable 14 between the 'tape' ends 15 and 16 of each respective absorberunit.

These tape en-ds which are reduced in thickness and the opposite ends ofarrest cable are suitably coupled together by means, such as swivelledsnap hooks 17 and 18 or the like. Also, the arrest cable, before eacharrest, is supported by any weli-known cable support means, such forexample as in Patent Number 3,010,683 for integral Cable Supports, ownedby the present assignee of this invention, namely, All AmericanEngineering Company of Wilmington, Delaware.

Since each energy absorber B and C of the first emhodiment mounte d oneach side of the landing surface A is identical in constrnction to theother, except for the diarnetrically opposite tangential payout pointsshown in Fi-GURE 1, a description in detail of only one of said energyabsorbers is necessary, Also, by using two absorbers on each side of alanding surface all crossover pulley means are eliminated and the deckpendant eX- tends across :the runway d rectly from each tape end.

The ofl`set diametrically opposed tangential payout of the tape i@ fromthe tape storage drums of the units B and C provides for highlyefiicient bi-directional use to arrest an aircraft Zh, such as shown inFIGURE 3, with the arrest heeh 21 thereof engaged with the arrest cable14 Each energy absorber means is comprised of three basic Componentassemblies, namely; the energy absorber mechanism A or B, the taperetrieve and pretensioning mechanism D and E and the respective mountingbases and anchoring means therefor. These three Component parts arehereinafter, described in detail under their respective headings.

The energ' absorber mechcn'sm The energy absorber of ernbodiment one asillustrated in FIGURES 6 through 8 includes a housing 22. This housingis formed from a drum-shaped container 2.3, the bottom 24 of whichcontainer is formed With a plurality of radial upstanding stator blades25, see FIGURE 8. The container 23 is formed around the top peripheralrim thereof with an outwardly projecting annular flange The flange 27 isformed with fastener openings 28 for alignment with complementaryfastener openings 32th in the annular ange 29 of an annular cover plate31 for suitable fasteners 33. The cover plate 31 has an annular skirt 34depending from the lange 29 at right-angles and forms the peripheralbase of triangular or inwardly tapered stator -blades 35 formed from theunderside of the cover plate.

When the cover plate is in position With the opposed fiange surface-sengaged, the outer circumferential surface of the cover plate skirt 34frictionally fits against the inncr top surface of the container belowthe flange. Said flange serves as a guide and as a reinforcing ring forthe stator blades 35. To further seal the cover plate in iluid tightconnection, an annular gasket 36 is clamped between the flanges 27 and29.

The bottom 24 of the container is concentrically formed with a bore 37to provide a hearing mount opening to mount a lower hearing assembly Theplate cover is also concentrically formed with a bore iti to provide ahearing mount opening for an upper hearing assembly 41 to rotatablysupport the main shaft 42 and a keyed or splined rotor 43 with matchingtapered rotor blades 44 and 45 formed from each respective face of therotor. The rotor is keyed to the main shaft by key means 46'.

The rotor blades :4 and 45 extend between the top and bottom statorblades 25 and 35. Each adjacent rotor blade is oppositely tapered withrespect to its next adjacent matching tapered stator blade and therespective edges of each opposite rotor and stator blade are slightlyspaced apart to permit free rotation of the rotor between the fixedstator blades. There are an uneven number of rotor blades with respectto the number of said stator blades, whereby the beat efi'ect is therebyminimized. For example, there may be a group of eight stator bladesopposite to a group of nine rotor blades, or Vice versa.

The lower bearing 33 is sealed by a lower plate 47 and an upper oil seal48 in the bore 37. This bearing seal plate 47 is secured to thecontainer bottom plate 24 by bolts 48. The upper hearing 41 is supportedbetween upper and lower plates Sii and 51, respectively, which aresecured by bolts 52 and 53 on the cover plate 31.. These plates areformed with aligned openings sealed around the shaft 42 by superimposed-upper and lower oil seals 54 and 55.

' The main rotor shaft 42 extends through the container 24 in thehearing mountings and then is formed with a conical extended hub 57. Thetip of the end of hub 57 is formed with exteror threads 58 forthreadedly receiving a retainer nut 59. Keyed onto the hub 57 by keymembers 60 is a tape storage drum 61, see FIGURE S.

The tape reel or storage drum has an end of the tape anchored to it by abolted supplementary core means adjacent a flat side surface of the tapestorage drum, around which supplementary core means the tape 10 islooped and Secured by staples or stitches 63. Thus the tapered ariresting tape .lil is anchored to the said core means 62 of the tape reelor storage drum so that withdrawal by unwinding of tape from around thecore of the drum causes the main shaft and the rotor to revolve.

The tape is readily replaceable by withdrawal of bolt means 62 wherebyvarious tape designs may be used to control payout operation and forworn tape replacement, see FIGURE 5.

The tape reel or storage drum 61 comprises the said core means 62 andspaced disk members 64 and 65 secured to the top and bottom ends of thesaid drum 61 by threaded fastener 66. These plates of the tape drum maybe made of aluminum to provide for lighter weight and to facilitatereplacement or interchange and transport of the tape drums from the mainrotor shaft 4-2. For example, to control various conditions of arrestoperation the tape 10 may be programmed, by shaping or by progressivelyvaryng its thickness and pay off radius, to thereby control the velocityof payout of the tape when pulled by the arrest i hook engaged arrestcable of landing aircraft and to thereby maintain a constant torque fromthe rotor, see FIG- URE 8.

The housing 22 of the energy absorber unit is maintained filled withenergy absorbing fluid. This fluid may be varied, for example, varioushigh or low temperature, high or low density fluid may be used aspredetermined ,to vary the capabilities of the unit.

When repeated rapid cycling Operations are required, the unit may becoupled by coupling connections 63 and 69, see FIGURES 4, 5 and .6, withconduits 70 and 71, which connect to a fluid circulating pump 72. Thispump 72 may be driven by the retrieve engine D and the fluid isrecirculated through the arresting unit or energy absorber and the heatexchanger 73 associated with the pump 72.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, there is shown a tape turning bar 75. This bar isSecured to the supporting base for the energy absorber unit housing 'andextends around the circumference of the tape payout quadrant a shortdistance from the tape drum perimeter to lift the tape during retrieveOperations. This lifting action facilitates winding or rewinding of thetape 10 on the' storage reel or drum during retrieving after an arrestof an aircraft and centers the tape on the core 62 to thereby preventloading the bottemplate 65 of the drum and prevents tape slump on thedrum.

Tape t'etr'eving and pretens'oning mechan'sm Following each arrestmentoperation of the energy absorber members, the tape must be rewound ontothe tape drum 61. This retrieving operation may be manual or by a powerdriven retrieving mechanism; such as generally referenced by the lettersD and E, see FIGURES l, 2, 6 and 7. The retrieve mechanism may compriseany suitable power means, such as a gasoline engine D with a drive shaft81 With a clutch means 82. This clutch drive connects to a gearreduction unit 83 from which vertically extends a power takeoff shaft 84and sprocket wheel 85, see FIGURE 4.

The sprocket wheel 85 has reeved around the same a drive chain 86, whichgoes to and around a relatively large sprocket wheel 87 Secured bymeans, such as bolts 88 and a spacer ring 80 formed aroundia face of thewheel 87, to the underside of the tape drum disk 65, see .FIGURES 6, 7and 8.

The engine D serves the dual function of retrieving and pretensioning.For example, the engine D is provided with suitable starting andreversing means, not shown, and the engine is preferably manuallydeclutched from the gear reduction unit during an arrest. Thepretensioning arrangement provides suitable brake means such as afriction brake 89, see FlGURE ll, for maintaining a predetermined loadon the arrest cable or deck pendant 14 prior to an arrest. Thispretensioning or loading of the .arrest cable 14 prevents the whip-lashaction of a s'lack cable from damaging aircraft passing over the sameand materially improves the cable dynamics. The pretension brakemechanism may be released manually or automatically at a predeterminedload. The pretension mechanism may be devised to automatically resetitself or be manually controlled during the retrieve operation and thesame may be manually adjusted to provide' for its predetermin'edrelease, however, the details of such mechanism is to be described andclaimed in detail in a subsequently filed patent application.

Mount'zg bases and anchorrg means The energy absorber units and theretrieve mechanisms are supported on flat base members, such as mountingpallets 115 and 116, respectively, see FIGURES 6 and 7. These mountingpallets maybe ground anchored by suitable means, such as elongatedspikes 117 and in some instances may be molded into cement bindingmaterial poured into holes around the spike shanks.

Embodment 'two FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate a second embodiment of theenergy absorber and illustrate an installation positioned flush with asuitable landing surface. In this flush mounting arrangernent, theenergy absorber means is mounted in a concrete box 90 open at the topformed with a metal grid reinforcement 91 embedded therein. The box 90is sector-shaped and comprises a solid rear wall 92 joined at each endto the ends of an arcuate front wall 93. The top peripheral edge 94 ofthe arcuate front wall is rounded and covered with a rub block. 95 overwhich passes the progressively tapered tape re as it reeves ofi of thereel associated with energy absorber unit B This unit B has a com-pauionenergy absorber as in embodiment one, and is pivoted ona vertical hingestructure 96, whereby the casing 22 thereof swings in a hori zontalarcuate path about the hinge in response to direc- -tional loads on thetape. Thus the absorber unit 2.2 is swiveled, so that the progressivelytapered tape follows the direction of payout.

The box 90 is provided with a cover 98 pivoted by the hinge 99 at thetop of the straight rear wall 92 of the box, and this cover will supportaircraft loads in the event an aircraf-t wheel or the like passes overthe same.

The rear wall 92 of the box 90 is formed with depressions or sockets 100and 101 to mount suitable Shock absorbers 102 and 103. These shockabsorbers serve to prevent damage to the absorber unit, if excessiveswivel action is encountered during an arrest. The energy absorber unitB is -identical to the unit of embodiment one, and includes the sametape drum 61* and the same rotor mechanism 43 keyed with a rotor shaft42 Operat'on From the foregoing the operation of the energy absorber isbelieved obvious. For example, briey summarizing a normal operation, asthe arrest cable or deck pendant 14 :is engaged by the hook equippedaircraft as shown `in FIGURE 3, the progressively tapered arresting tapeis pulled from the tape storage drum 61 and the aircraft is deceleratedby the action of the rotor housed in container 22.

This tapered tape, which is `preferably nylon tape, as it unwindsrevolves the rotor 43 with respect to the stator blades and on each sideof the rotor blades 44 and in the container 22 according to the radiusarm of the tape as it unwinds. As this occurs fluid flow within thecontainer is primarily inan outward direction from the center driveshaft toward the peripheral edge of the rotor blades, and, after turning180 degrees near the outside diametrical edge thereof, flows back towardthe hub or drive shaft 42 :between the stator blades 25 and 35. Thisflow, along with turbulence within the flow pattern, develop torque atthe shaft 42 which is transrnitted to the tape drum 61.

It is possible to predict the performance curves of the energy absorberunit; namely, for example, tension-payout and aircraft hook-load andrunout curves for different size energy absorber units. Theseperformance curves may be developed from:

(1) The torque developed by the rotor.

(2) The radius to the nylon tape 10 as it is wrapped on the drum 62.

(3) The thickness of the tape webb ing or change in the radius of thewebbing as it pays out.

(4) The tape may be tapered in transverse section or it may beprogrammed in stepped :down sections, for example, at fifty footintervals.

By changing these :parameters suitable performance characteristics canbe positively obtained 'for various ranges of aircraft weights andengaging velocities using a given landing surface span and aircraftrunout distance.

After the aircraft arresting hook 21 is disengaged from the arrestingcable 14, the retrieve engine D is clutched in and the variably thicknylon arresting tape 10 is rewound on the storage drum 61 to make thesame ready for another aircraft arrest operation. During the retrievingof the tape by rewinding the same on the drum 61 the turner bar 75 ismounted on the pallet member, but during each aircraft arrestmentoperation this turner bar 75 is removed.

The .bi-directional ability of this arrest installation provides forrapid cycling and when rapid Cycling is required, the cooling systemincluding the heat exchanger '73, pump 72 and the coolant conveyingconduits 70 and 71 are utilized during retrieving to prevent overheatingof the fluid in the energy absorber units.

As briefly referred to hereinbefore, the fluid used can vary in density,for example, water in summer and an antifreeze solution, such as anethylene glycol solution in Winter.

Thus there is provided a simplified aircraft arresting gear which isvery efiicient in action and which action is positively predictable forthe best results, when location, climate or temperature conditions andwhen aircraft weights, engaging velocities, thrust, arrest cable deckspan and aircraft runout are known.

Without further description it is believed that the ad vantages of thepresent invention over the prior art is apparent and while only twoembodiments of the same are illustrated, it is to be expresslyunderstood that the same is not limited thereto as various changes maybe made in the combination and arrangement of the parts illustrated, aswill now likely appear to others and those skilled in the art. For adefinition of the scope or limits of the invention, reference should behad to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for arresting mobile objects having an object arrest cable andcomprsing an energy absorber having a rotatable fluid immersed rotor, ahousing for holding fluid enclosing said rotor, a rotor shaft extendingthrough said housing, said housing having a top and a bottom wall, saidtop and bottom walls having a predetermined number of oppositely fiacingstator blades, said rotor being formed with a predetermined number ofoppositely facing rotor blades, said rotor shaft having a hub portionextending beyondthe top wall of said housing, a tape storage drum keyedto said hub portion, and tape wrapped around said stonage drum having afree end connectable with the arrest cable, said tape being pulled outaccording to the load resulting from the weight and velocity of a mobileobject imparted to the free end of said tape as said object engages saidarrest cable, said number of stator blades being difierent from the saidnumber of rotor blades to minimize beat eifect during operation, saidtape being formed of varying thickness from its free end, therebyvarying the radius of the wrapped tape on the storage drum.

2. An energy absorber unit comprsing a liquid contaning container and adrum, a tape wrapped upon itself in a single spiral around said drum, arotary fluid brake means with radial vanes, said vanes being Secured toa shaft with an extended hub portion exterior of the container, saiddrum being keyed to said hub, said tape during unwinding thereof fromthe drum thereby rotating said drum and the said vanes of the rotarybrake means, whereby resistance of said vanes in the liquid in saidcontainer is imparted to said tape drum to resist the unwinding of saidtape from the drum, said tape being formed into stepdown sections atlongitudinally arranged programmed intervals.

3. An energy absorber unit comprsing a liquid containing container and adrum, a tape wrapped upon itself in a single spiral around said drum, arotary fluid brake means with radial vanes, said vanes being Secured toa shaft with an extended hub portion exterior of the container, saiddrum being keyed to said hub, said tape during unwinding thereof fromthe drum rthereby rotating said drum and the said vanes of the rotarybrake means, whereby resistance of said vanes in the liquid in saidcontainer is imparted to said tape drum to resist the unwinding of saidtape from the drum, said tape being tapered in transverse section atlongi tudinally arranged programmed intervals.

4. An energy absorber unit for decelerating a mobile load comprsing tacontainer with liquid therein, said container having top and bottomwalls, stator blades projecting radially from the interior surface ofeach of said walls, a shaft rotatably journalled in the top tand bottomWalls of said container, said shaft having an end extending from withinsaid container beyond the exterior surface of said top wall thereof,radial drag vanes on said shaft within said container adjacent saidstator blades, a

d' hub keyed on the extended end of said shaft, a drum keyed to saidextended shaft end, a load engageable cable, a tape wrapped around saiddrum in coiled layers, said tape having a free end extendng from the topcoiled layer thereof for connection with said load engageable cable,said tape unwinding when said load engageable cable is moved by anengaging mobile load, said tape during unwnding reducing the radius ofsaid coiled layers on the drum, thereby mparting a prog'ammed rotationto the drum, said shaft and the radial vanes on the shaft, said vanesdisplacing liquid within the container with '8 respect to said r'adiallyprojecting stator blades, Whereby said rotaton of said drag vanes in theliquid provides a programmed drag resistance to the rotation of saidshafit and said drum and Iesiststhe unwinding of said tape therefrom,said tape being made progressively thicker in crosssection, to therebyvary the radius of the tape Wrap on the drum.

No references cited.

,10 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examner,

EUGENE G. BOTZ, Exam'ner.

1. MEANS FOR ARRESTING MOBILE OBJECTS HAVING AN OBJECT ARREST CABLE ANDCOMPRISING AN ENERGY ABSORBER HAVING A ROTATABLE FLUID IMMERSED ROTOR, AHOUSING FOR HOLDING FLUID ENCLOSING SAID ROTOR, A ROTOR SHAFT EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID HOUSING, SAID HOUSING HAVING A TOP AND A BOTTOM WALL, SAIDTOP AND BOTTOM WALL HAVING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF OPPOSITELY FACINGSTATOR BLADES, SAID ROTOR BEING FORMED WITH A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OFOPPOSITELY FACING ROTOR BLADES, SAID ROTOR SHAFT HAVING A HUB PORTIONEXTENDING BEYOND THE TOP WALL OF SAID HOUSING, A TAPE STORAGE DRUM KEYEDTO SAID HUB PORTION, AND TAPE WRAPPED AROUND SAID STORAGE DRUM HAVING AFREE END CONNECTABLE WITH THE ARREST CABLE, SAID TAPE BEING PULLED OUTACCORDING TO THE LOAD RESULTING FROM THE WEIGHT AND VELOCITY OF A MOBILEOBJECT IMPARTED TO THE FREE END OF SAID TAPE AS SAID OBJECT ENGAGES SAIDARREST CABLE, SAID NUMBER OF STATOR BLADES BEING DIFFEENT FROM THE SAIDNUMBER OR ROTOR BLADES TO MINIMIZE BEAT EFFECT DURING OPERATION, SAIDTAPE BEING FORMED OF VARYING THICKNESS WRAPPED TAPE ON THE STORAGE DRUM.